Posted By Sean Fraser
Without exception, all employers have to comply with the provisions of HASAWA as described in section (2), as below:
"2. (1) It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of an employer's duty under the preceding subsection, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular
(A) the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health;
(B) arrangements for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;
(C) the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees;
(D) so far as is reasonably practicable as regards any place of work under the employer's control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risks to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks;
(E) the provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work. "
There is also guidance on the HSE website, under "Managing Health and Safety" in the free leaflets section, specifically -
Directors Responsibilities (HSC booklet)-
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg343.pdfFAQ on Directors Responsibilities -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg343faq.htmI would also strongly suggest you make reference to the Introduction to Health and Safety booklet on the same website -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg259.pdfThis booklet has a question - "Do H&S laws apply to me" for which the reply is - "Yes. To all business, however small. . ."
There one only one exception criterion relating to number of persons employed and only applies to two specified conditions - employers with less than 5 employees do not require a written policy statement and do not require to record the significant findings of any risk assessment (note, it doesn't exempt the requirement to actually undertake assessments!). As an illustration, a self-employed person is still required to undertake Risk Assessments, although not necessarily required to record the outcomes, assuming they actually act on any findings of course!
A final recommendation is the guidance document "Managing Health and Safety: Five Steps to Health" (from the same source) -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg275.pdfAll you need to know are in the documents recommended - if in doubt, ALWAYS apply it until specifically advised to the contrary, that way you cannot go wrong!
Hope that helps.